On the occasion of Guru Purnima, the river Ganga in Varanasi became a moving classroom for tradition. Renowned folk singer and Padma Shri awardee Malini Awasthi, along with her cultural ensemble Sonchiraiya, conducted an exclusive five-day musical training workshop aboard the Gangotri cruise. The floating residency blended the soulful strains of Sawan folk, thumri, and kajri with the meditative aura of the river, offering participants a rare immersion in heritage music against the backdrop of one of India’s most sacred waterways.
Malini Awasthi (BCCL/ Arvind Kumar)
(L) Anannya (R) Dharamnath Mishra
Amit Pandey (L) and Shivshankar
(L) Janvi Verma (R) Ashok Gupta
(L) Manjari and Shweta Malaviya (R) Manish Khatrry
Participants from across generations, ranging from Gen-Z students to seasoned music lovers from across India, converged aboard the cruise to delve into the finer nuances of classical and folk music under the time-honoured guru-shishya parampara.The workshop included evocative renditions of seasonal classics such as Jhula Dhire Se Jhula O Banwari and Ab Barha Bahar Ke Ai Gaile Na, with each session weaving together yoga, meditation, and disciplined vocal training to create a holistic cultural experience. Accompanying Awasthi on the occasion was her daughter Anannya and Pt Dharmnath Mishra.
(L) Neeraj Mishra (R) Dr Malvika
(L) Palak (R) Vivek, Jayant and Vikas Malaviya
(L-R) Poonam, Sonam and Reena
Pawan and Gaytika
(L) Smita (R) Ritika
(L) Varsha (R) Subham
(L) Naina and Aishvariya (R) Neha and Aditi
Remembering her guru on the occasion, Malini Awasthi said, “Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi or Appaji was not only a great singer but carried with her the rich tradition of Indian classical and folk music. She spread this legacy by imparting the knowledge to her disciples worldwide.”
